10 Horrifying Facts About Flying

I'm not afraid of flying and I always tell myself that the chances a plane crashes on your house are much higher then when you enter a plane and fly
off ad crash somewhere on this planet...

After reading this I thought to share this with you guys and gals here on travel guide.

BEWARE :If you suffer from a fear of flying, you probably shouldn't read this!

These 11 Minutes Are the Scariest

We're not saying you should spend the three minutes after takeoff and last eight minutes before landing frozen in fear, but you should probably be
awake and alert.
Research has shown that these 11 minutes are when 80 percent of plane crashes occur.
Think about that the next time you're tempted to ignore the flight crew's instructions.

Traveling with a Lap Child Can Be Deadly

No one wants to spend extra money on a separate plane ticket for their infant, especially when kids under two can usually fly free.
But can you put a price on safety? You wouldn't dream of driving with your child sitting in your lap instead of a car seat (we hope), so why would you
do it on a flight?
According to the FAA, "The safest place for your child on an airplane is in a government-approved child safety restraint system (CRS) or device, not
on your lap.
Your arms aren't capable of holding your child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence." Kids can easily fly out of a parent's arms during
severe turbulence or a crash--hurting not only the child but other passengers as well.
Survivable accidents can become fatal for unrestrained infants. (Read this account of an emergency landing in which a mother survived but her lap baby
was killed on impact.) Play it safe and get the extra seat.

Turbulence Might Be Getting Worse

Flight feeling bumpier than usual? It's not your imagination. Scientists say that the amount of moderate to extreme turbulence experienced on
transatlantic flights could increase by between 10 and 40 percent by mid-century, due to increasing levels of carbon dioxide.
Buckle up!

Your Plane Is Filthy

With planes flying on tighter schedules than ever before, there's often no time for cleaning before a flight is turned around for the next group of
passengers.
Since cold and influenza viruses can live for days on surfaces, planes can become germ hotbeds. Watch out for seat pockets (where sick passengers may
stash dirty tissues), tray tables (a study found that 60 percent of tray tables tested harbored the "superbug" MRSA), and airplane blankets (which are
only washed every five to 30 days, according to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal). Pack antibacterial wipes and hope for the best.

Pilots Fall Asleep at the Controls

Here's an eye-opening statistic: Between 43 and 54 percent of pilots surveyed in the U.K., Norway, and Sweden admitted to having fallen asleep while
flying a passenger plane. Even worse, a third of them stated that they woke up to find that their copilot had also been sleeping!

Some Pilots Barely Make a Living Wage

Doctors, surgeons, pilots: We want these people, who literally hold our lives in their hands, to be well paid and happy. Unfortunately, many pilots
are extremely underpaid, especially by regional airlines. Check out this pay chart for pilots and copilots--you might make more than the person who's
flying your plane. Keep in mind that most pilots are only paid for time in the air (from when the plane leaves the gate to when it arrives at the
destination), which doesn't include time spent getting to and from the airport, performing pre-flight duties, or waiting for delayed planes.

Airlines Are Skimping on Fuel

Airline cost-cutting measures are getting extreme. Some airlines are reportedly flying with less-than-recommended fuel levels in an effort to save
money, according to a scary report by Spanish safety investigators. The report focuses on budget airline Ryanair, which is no stranger to cutting
corners. Take this case, in which the airline instructed its pilots to fly slower in order to save fuel.

You Might Have Only 90 Seconds to Escape a Burning Plane

Better make sure that you know where the emergency exits are on your flight. The FAA requires that all aircraft be capable of being evacuated in 90
seconds, as a minute and a half is the amount of time it can take for a fire to spread through the plane. To up your odds, wear cotton or
non-synthetic clothes; synthetics are flammable and may melt to your skin.

If You're Not Sitting Within Five Rows of an Exit, You're in Trouble

If a crash happens, let's hope that you're sitting within five rows of an exit. Statistical analyses of plane crashes have shown that passengers who
sit farther than five rows from an exit have greatly reduced chances of successfully evacuating a plane during an emergency. Another way to increase
your chances of getting off a plane after a crash is to count the rows between your seat and the nearest exit once you've boarded the plane. If
visibility is reduced by smoke, you'll still be able to find your way out.

Turbulence Hurts

Here's a good reason to keep that seat belt fastened even if the sign isn't on: Turbulence is the number-one cause of nonfatal aviation accidents.
Most injuries sustained as a result of these accidents are suffered by passengers who are not safely buckled in. Don't get up when the seat belt sign
is illuminated, and when you're sitting down, always keep your seat belt on.

By Caroline Morse

Thank you Caroline I needed that..

I really don't know if the first line of my thread still counts after reading this.??
Have a nice flight.

To add to that list, you receive more radiation during a commercial flight than is considered the safe limit for nuclear power plant operators by the
Department of Energy. Wearing your TLD (Thermo-luminescent Dosimiter: It measures the amount of radiation you've received) on a single commercial
flight will likely cause you to spike over your MONTHLY allowed work limits.

And the pilots are they protected from that radiation? because I can imagine you wouldn't live long if your constantly in the air... ?

There's no need to protect them, it's not actually harmful. Spending a day on the beach would also exceed limits for radiation workers; it's just
that the DoE limits are extremely conservative. Radiation is everywhere. Even normal dirt will irradiate you, and simple weather changes can set off
alarms due to alpha radiation.

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